Today I saw an article where Santi Carzola of Arsenal was talking about his ongoing ankle problems and was quoting as saying "The first operation was risky. The problem was my skin. I'd had a lot of corticosteroids during my career and the skin was quite deteriorated."The future Premier League champions Manchester City also have a current doping violation against their name, alongside Bournemouth and Fleetwood Town, for 3 strikes and you're out on the whereabouts rule implied by Wada. Its on record that the Operación Puerto doctor Eufemiano Fuentes was seen with numerous Spanish footballers.I'm sure there are many more cases that you can find for yourself.

This got me thinking about the blasé attitute that not only the people running the sport have, but also the media and the fans.As a cycling fan the smallest things are blown hugely out of proportion, but they are the front runners in cleaning up their sport, and it wouldn't surprise if it is now one of the cleanest out there.It seems to me that only endurance sports get criticised as it could be seen as having more of a benefit. But as football continues to get quicker and the rise of importance in sports science and keeping fit, I feel this is no longer the case. Just look at Shrewsbury, its not coincidence that the more you run in a game the more you win.

I'm not even sure what stance Northampton Town take as it has never even been discused, its not seen as an issue. How would you feel if it was found out that we used drugs of anykind to aid performance. You only have to look at countless interviews with managers and players who naturally front up to using injections to get get people through matches. (A needle ban in cycling now is pretty much commonplace) Does anyone care? I'm not even sure I would, but yet other sports I feel differently about. (I can't stand the hypocrisy with Mo Farah for example)

I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but perhaps it would be interesting that a question gets raised about it in the next open forum?In any case I'd like to hear different views on it. Sorry for the lack of a coherent piece. It turned into a ramble.

Players are very well educated on prohibited drugs even at youth team level - however (although no defense in doping regulations) there is a massive difference in clear performance enhancing drugs (blatant cheating) versus in some cases simple over the counter treatments either taken in ignorance in slighty excessive amounts or sometimes simply via a normal dose.

The issue of drugs used for treatment is different - there may be an ethical or indeed long term health implication but they are not banned.

There is also an argument on natural versus chemical - the use of EPO is of course banned - altitude training which has exactly the same physiological affect is not.

Bottom line for me is there a clear list of banned substances - either specific or in excess amounts.The system is not perfect but testing statistics would suggest this is not a huge problem in football.

I remember reading about a Poland vs England match which was called off last minute due to a waterlogged pitch (they had a retractable roof!). The players were prescribed between 400-600mg caffeine pre match, only to then be diagnosed with sleeping pills due to not being able to sleep on that caffeine dose.

Needles to say, the game went ahead the next day and the players played out a dreadfully boring game... No doubt to feeling groggy from the sleeping pill after effects. Both legal and very common place in sport, and shows the lengths people will go to just to get a slight advantage.

How interesting 606, I’d never really given this too much thought before? Although I recall a story I heard about Batistuta wetting the bed because he was unable to go through the pain of walking to the toilet. It states in the links below that it was so bad he actually asked a doctor to amputate both his legs above the ankle? I would assume this was one of the possible consequences of painkiller/drug overuse?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Batistutahttp://www.worldsoccer.com/news/gabriel-batistuta-asked-legs-amputated-356207

Chairman, Paul Stratford Fanclub & proud member of the Steve Massey Appreciation Society (Though refuse to be in his fan club on account of his crap goal celebration in front of the Hotel End when playing for Wrexham)

Chris Hargreaves talks in his book about the number of injections he was having to get through games in the latter part of his career. Pain serves a purpose in letting you know something isn't right. Blanking that pain out and carrying on regardless is rarely a good idea in the long term!

How interesting 606, I’d never really given this too much thought before? Although I recall a story I heard about Batistuta wetting the bed because he was unable to go through the pain of walking to the toilet. It states in the links below that it was so bad he actually asked a doctor to amputate both his legs above the ankle? I would assume this was one of the possible consequences of painkiller/drug overuse?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Batistutahttp://www.worldsoccer.com/news/gabriel-batistuta-asked-legs-amputated-356207

Numerous players from the serie a purple period have spoke out about unintentional drug abuse. They didn't even test for steroids until 1999.

Just dug this article out from 1998, makes a good read of you're interested in the subject:

Once the 00's came around, I remember Edgar Davids and Pep Guardiola receiving bans for nandrolone steroid use. Nedved also stated he used to be placed on a drip before games and felt like he could jump through the ceiling of changing rooms before games.

I like to think it's rarer now due to better testing. But you keep seeing elite players disappear over preseason for a few weeks and coming back looking like Olympic sprinters.

I think the question comes at what point do you use drugs? If you are unable to play without the aid of them, I personally think that is where the line starts. The 'grey area' is a hard one to manage and I just don't think football is doing enough. The double standards compared to other sports is ridiculous. So many players have niggles and they use injections to get them through the game. Is that performance enhancing? If not, then could it be abused? In many sports there are TUE's which are certain drugs that can be given legally to bring you up to 100% A question cycling has gone through (they've moved on since) is whether you take more than you need that could be seen as enhancing your normal ability.

The question of sleeping pills to help plays sleep is another interesting one. Again going back to cycling, 1 rider got sacked and 2 others suspended for taking them without their team (Lotto Jumbo) knowing. (they were caught as they couldn't be woken up the next morning for a meeting) On the question cobblerwatch raised about 'testing statistics would suggest this is not a huge problem in football', I don't know how regularly and crucially when they happen (I doubt very often) but the lack of positive tests to me can only be a bad sign.

Gregor Robertson case seems a regular one. If you are not sure of a contract, then you will do everything in your power to get fit. As a knowledgable man, If he wasn't happy about it, then I think there could be more to this than meets the eye.

Well after the last few home performances I don't think any of our players are on Speed! In all seriousness, I think it needs to be looked at in footballers as the permanent damage pain killing injections cause them in later life are not even considered by the teams and maybe should be. The quality of life of retired players at our level and below of the game is probably pretty poor just so they could turn out every Saturday and should these injections be classed as performance enhancing, as without them players probably wouldn't be able to play as many games.With regard to Turley, I think he was caught a couple of times, not sure what he had been taking.

Chairman, Paul Stratford Fanclub & proud member of the Steve Massey Appreciation Society (Though refuse to be in his fan club on account of his crap goal celebration in front of the Hotel End when playing for Wrexham)

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